7.4 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
A giant stone statue comes to life to protect the residents of a small town against the depradations of an evil warlord.
Starring: Miwa Takada, Yoshihiko Aoyama, Jun Fujimaki, Ryûtarô Gomi, Ryuzo ShimadaForeign | 100% |
Drama | 15% |
Supernatural | 13% |
Action | 4% |
Fantasy | 3% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Japanese: LPCM Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: LPCM Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Note: This version of this film is available on Blu-ray as part of The Daimajin Trilogy.
Arrow Video's relatively recent release of Django
4K
+ Texas, Adios BD caused me to jokingly ask, "When is a Django film not 'really' a Django film?", and in that regard
I'd
like to take a cue from a reliably ebullient Kim Newman who, in a supplementary introduction to the three Daimajin films collected by
Arrow for this new
release, suggests that this so-called "trilogy" may not in fact be properly termed as such. As several of the supplements spread across this three
disc
set get into, the general flailing of the Japanese film industry and the particular straits Daimajin producing studio Daiei found itself in by
the
mid-sixties meant that when some idea hit with the public, it was played for all it was worth, and in that regard the three Daimajin films
are
probably a salient example, since, as Newman and some of the commentators mention, the three films basically tell the same tale with slight
differences. The third film, called Wrath of Daimajin here, but Daimajin Strikes Again on a previous release on Blu-ray (see
below),
arguably offers the most distinctive ambience due to its emphasis on children, something that (as is again mentioned in some of the supplements)
tends to link that film, at least subliminally, with Daiei's "other" big "monster franchise" of this same period, Gamera. One of the kind of funny things about all three
Daimajin films is that, as commentators Tom Mes and Jasper Sharp discuss in their analysis of the second film, their entire raison d'etre
was ostensibly their special effects, and
yet for the most part all three films offer around one hour of largely effects free narrative before releasing the kraken (so to speak) in the final few
minutes.
Daimajin is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.35:1. Arrow's insert booklet contains only the following fairly generic verbiage about this transfer, which is lumped in with the two others in the set:
Daimajin, Return of Daimaijin / Daimajin ikaru and Wrath of Daimajin / Daimajin gyakushu are presented in their original aspect ratio of 2.35:1 with mono sound. The High Definition masters were produced and supplied by Kadokawa, with original grading and restoration by Arrow Films at R3Store Studios.While I don't have the Mill Creek release to do a side by side comparison, a cursory glance through screenshots suggests that this Arrow release offers somewhat darker presentations for all three films, and with a palette that doesn't have the yellow-green look of the Mill Creek release, but which can be skewed more toward a purplish tone at times. This first film offers generally secure detail levels, especially in the many close-ups, and to my eyes clarity looks marginally improved in this version (again judging solely by screenshots). The composite effects show their seams, as is the case in all three films, and the surplus of opticals, especially in the closing third or so of the film, can lead to spikes in grain, though there are no real resolution issues to report. As with its siblings in this set, Daimajin shows occasional slight signs of age related wear and tear.
Additional English language version materials for Majin, the Monster of Terror (Daimajiri) and The Return of the Giant Majin (Return of Daimajin) were sourced from MGM. The picture elements were scanned at Company 3 and audio transfer work was completed at Deluxe Media, Los Angeles. Grading and restoration and audio work was completed at R3Store Studios and The Engine House Media Services.
Marty wasn't overly impressed with the audio on the Mill Creek release, and while there admittedly may not be a huge difference in the Arrow version, I'm perhaps a bit more tolerant of some of the issues Marty mentioned in his review, since they're also in evidence on the LPCM Mono Japanese and English audio options on this version. Toggling between these two tracks shows very little if any difference in overall amplitude and mix levels, something that isn't always the case on this set, and I found dialogue to be clearly rendered on both tracks, though the Japanese track did sound somewhat more full bodied to my ears. There is some background damage that can be clearly heard on the Japanese track in particular, which tends to ebb and flow depending on how "quiet" scenes are otherwise. Optional English subtitles are available.
- 2.35 Version (HD; 00:56)
- 1.33 Version (HD; 00:56)
- Original Theatrical Trailer (HD: 2:32)
- Daimajin & Gamera vs. Barugon Double Feature Trailer (HD; 1:14)
- US TV Spot (HD; 1:07)
- Alternate US TV Spot (HD; 1:07)
The first Daimajin film offers a secure template from which its two follow ups were obviously culled, and this first film has a certain mystical presence that the two other films arguably don't quite match. Technical merits are generally solid, and the supplementary package very enjoyable. Recommended.
(Still not reliable for this title)
Daimajin ikaru
1966
Daimajin gyakushu
1966
1995
1999
Gamera tai Barugon
1966
Daikaijû Gamera
1965
Gamera tai Gyaosu
1967
1996
Gamera tai Giron
1969
Gamera tai Jaiga
1970
Gamera tai Bairasu
1968
Gamera tai Jigura
1971
Uchu kaijû Gamera
1980
妖怪大戦争 / Yōkai Daisensō
2005
モスラ対ゴジラ / Mosura tai Gojira
1964
ゴジラ対ヘドラ / Gojira tai Hedora / Godzilla vs. Hedorah
1971
大菩薩峠 / Dai-bosatsu tôge
1966
怪獣総進撃 / Kaijû sôshingeki
1968
ゴジラ対メガロ / Gojira tai Megaro
1973
地球攻撃命令 ゴジラ対ガイガン / Chikyû kogeki meirei: Gojira tai Gaigan / Godzilla vs. Gigan
1972